St Andrews

[IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere]

DD has received a very good offer from St Andrews. She loves the look of the course and is very keen to go there. Aside from the course she loves the idea of a small town, has no interest in nightlife as part of the "student experience" and loves the quirky traditions.

Does anyone have any experience of being there and the extra expenses that could be involved such as the extra cost of travel, formal dinners and the like?

We are a low income family in an economically deprived area. She is part of a very small 6th form - 12 in the Upper 6th. Her school is not in special measures but is holding on by the skin of its teeth! They are very keen for her to go to St Andrews but she is not going to be their responsibility!

We will support her as much as we possibly can but I am worried that it will be a lot more expensive than a less elite university.

Any thoughts?

@Alittlewornout Yes, Janettas is a popular haunt for my son and his friends. He doesn’t drink but I think the equivalent is being spent on ice cream!

@Dahliafairy think my dd is doing both!! She said the Baileys icecream is amazing! Isn't fab that they all still find ways to socialise and have a good time despite this semi lockdown. I think these kids are pretty amazing with all they have been faced with this year.

It’s definitely not been the year they imagined it would be but I’m so proud of how well DS and his friends have just got on with things and tried their best to be positive. They’ve certainly learnt to be adaptable and resilient!

My DS also working harder than I have seen him work in the past - maybe the reduced socialising will make this the highest achieving year ever!

He did one exam after Independent Learning Week, has 2 in December finishing 10th, coming home on train 11th.

@AChickenCalledDaal - my thought was to plan for the train, but if he has to isolate before he leaves due to somebody in his bubble testing positive, but he tests negative, I would drive up to collect him to isolate at home. If he tests positive, I will get him as soon as I am allowed to! Fortunately that seems very unlikely as he is not taking risks and St A cases are very low (apart from McIntosh).

DS had not seen the e-mail about the university providing free transport to the airports and Leuchars, so I sent it to him. In case anybody wants it.....

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/coronavirus/guides/travelling-home/?fbclid=IwAR3cGFbJ-zgkSwcki04nDmMNyUwVsXzn5dczKPHRODIT2lPoEY_tRnjQUTE

I hope you don't mind me asking, but does anyone have a DC at St Andrews medical school? If so, would you mind me sending you a PM with a question?
Thanks!

@LaLaFlottes, yes, my DS is a first year medic if that is any good.

Thank you so much - I will PM you now

Just coming on here to share a lovely story - soosan posted her old St. Andrews scarf to my dd who loves it! From one wardlaw woman to another.

Isn’t mumsnet a nice place sometimes?

Thank you soosan x

@Newgirls that’s lovely!

DD echoed what a pp said - no idea how she would have coped with a normal social life and the amount of work they have to do.

She was horrified on Friday: she was stopped in the street by C5 news and had a mike and camera thrust in her face. Though she didn’t actually appear on the news, which she was very relieved about!

Was that about the testing centre? I saw a lovely photo of 4 female students in Times today in the centre

It was, yes. She said they asked about the university and the new COVID tests. Her and a friend had just gone to drop their rocks off at the earth science building
Will have to see if anyone I know has the Times. Being a bad parent I don’t feel like venturing out now!

DS had his first test yesterday, which was negative. I think he has done it a bit too early, as is second test will now have to be 4/11, but he is not coming home until 11/11. Still nice to get a negative test. Results only took 30 mins.

I hope they are able to keep some of this testing capacity for next term - it could really help with a return to normal

All the best to everyone's offspring that have exams looming. DD has the first one tomorrow morning. That came round quickly!

I've also just been sent a mad-looking picture of DD in red gown, paper crown and crazy jumper - it was Christmas dinner tonight in halls. Lovely to hear that they were able to have a bit of a real life celebration.

Good luck to mini Chicken too! Does she really have a Saturday exam?

The Uni Hall Christmas dinner was last week and DS's bubble wore suits or DJ if they were posh. Maybe others wore Xmas jumpers.

@AChickenCalledDaal good luck to your dd today mine is also sitting an exam this morning at 9.30. She is now at home so I have been warned no hoovering!!
Yes Monkey Saturday exams are quite common ds has had a few in his time there.
Best wishes to all students with exams over this period, hope they go well and the IT element behaves itself!!

DD is in Andrew Melville Hall. I suspect they don't do posh, although it was nice to see that the gown had an outing.

Yes, lots of exams today. Good luck to *Alittlewornout"'s DD - and also to Alittlewornout. I remember finding it rather strange when DD was sitting STEP upstairs in her bedroom back in June and I was sitting downstairs hardly daring to breathe!

@AChickenCalledDaal that's exactly me at the minute! Trying to eat some toast whilst stomach churning!! Next one is Monday so at least I am at work!!

Hope your daughter got on OK Alittlewornout. DD seems happy, despite an 8am fire alarm and 3am hailstorm, which probably weren't the best pre-exam preparation!

Your poor Dd Chicken, but so glad she was undeterred! We had a thunder storm in the early hours which woke us all up. Dd happy too and glad to have the first one under her belt. 1 down 3 to go!! Good luck to your dd with her next one.

Hope we get more information about the phased return soon, they are usually pretty good about getting their plans out. It may help that St Andrews good back relatively late, but with the high volume of overseas students juggling quarantine and flights it seems like a stress too many!

I think dd has end of Jan for return anyway so St. Andrews might not be as affected as some English unis?

If they test them going back which seems to be the plan let’s hope it’s better than last term with more f2f etc. Ever the optimist!

Good luck to everyone sitting exams. DD has one on Friday morning, so is a bundle of stress!
Yes, fingers crossed they get some more f2f next term

Exam result already here and dd is delighted and relieved. Having nothing else to do might have paid off. Hopefully she will be able to focus on social life next year 🎉